2012 Difference Makers

The Difference Maker program strives to recognize our community’s unsung heroes – the grandmothers and foster parents, the volunteers and the small community organizations, the teenagers and budding child advocates – along with the powerhouse agencies and individuals who make the Greater Cincinnati region a better place for children. Since the inaugural Difference Maker Awards in 2008, we have recognized more than 100 nominees.

Individual (Adult) Honorees

Karen D’Agostino: Executive Director and founder of the Music Resource Center-Cincinnati, she empowers youth through music by operating a multifaceted teen center that uses recording and performing arts, as well as life skills mentoring to create a sense of empowerment and accomplishment in the urban community.

Vanessa Sparks: Through “Youth Opportunities Over-the-Rhine/West End” and the Community Love Garden, she teaches leadership, critical-thinking skills, that all actions have consequences and you should have respect for yourself and others, and that children need to use their imaginations.

Individual (Youth) Honorees

Alexander & Hannah Laman: Nine-year-old twins who share their love of reading with others, they have collected and donated more than 8,000 books to low-income and at-risk children in schools, shelters and via various community groups through their organization "Adopt-a-Book."

Kayla Nunn: A participant in the YMCA Black & Latino Achievers program, she has volunteered at Camp Invention, packed meals for Freestore Foodbank and Kids Against Hunger, assisted at school supply and backpack giveaways and talked to families at open houses about saving Box Tops to benefit their schools.

Organization Honorees

The Dragonfly Foundation: Provides comfort, joy and CARE (Caring, Community and Awareness that Results in Emotional Health) to kids and young adults who have cancer or a blood disease, and their families; supports quality of life programs to enhance patient experiences and eases the emotional and psychological pain and fear that often lingers after treatment is completed.

Faces Without Places: Since 1998 they support children experiencing homelessness by keeping them connected to resources, ensuring uninterrupted enrollment and attendance to school, and by providing education, supplies, field trips, transportation, specialized services and mentoring.

Haley BakerAs a Court Designated Worker in Kenton County, KY, she makes a difference in the life of every child she encounters by going above and beyond her job duties to teach children that they can be happy and successful in life with patience, determination, and self-discipline, regardless of their backgrounds.

Rachel KonermanAs a preschool teacher for more than a decade, she is deeply committed to the art and science of educating young children of all abilities, including advocating for and successfully implementing a space in the school for child-directed projects, while inspiring other teachers with her passion and dedication.

Marisa BehlePassionate about working with children of all ages and abilities, she uses her education in nursing and massage therapy to provide holistic health services to transplant and critically ill young patients after surgeries as a Holistic Health Specialist at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center.

Jim MasonAs President and CEO, he has led Beech Acres Parenting Center’s mission to inspire and equip parents, families, and communities to raise capable, caring, contributing children by empowering parents to recognize and use their own talents; as well as operating successful foster care, mental health, mentoring and parent education programs.

Dr. Jennifer BrownTirelessly working both professionally and personally to educate herself and others about autism spectrum disorder, she recently retired after a decorated career serving children as a speech-language pathologist. A founding member of the Autism Society of Greater Cincinnati, she advanced society’s understanding and acceptance of people living with disabilities.

Nathaniel McFarlandSeeing that a group of young men needed supplies for their baseball team and to have faith that there are those in the community who care, he found donations to purchase uniforms and equipment for the team, showing these boys that they do have the support of their community.

Bill BurwinkelFounder of Adopt A Class, he has brought together thousands of business and community volunteers, who have established mentor relationships with over 6,000 disadvantaged students, with the purpose of providing positive role models and developing practical and social skills for students while building a culture of teamwork for business and community groups.

Sonnia RichardsAlways thinking of new ways to help children learn and grow, she has put her “heart and soul” into working with hundreds of children as an early childhood educator, making a difference in their lives through hard work and caring for their well-being.

Karen D’AgostinoExecutive Director and founder of the Music Resource Center-Cincinnati, she empowers youth through music by operating a multifaceted teen center that uses recording and performing arts, as well as life skills mentoring to create a sense of empowerment and accomplishment in the urban community.

Gwen RobinsonAs President and CEO of Cincinnati-Hamilton County Community Action Agency, she has repositioned the organization as a change agent in the lives of children and families through education, training and support, therefore improving the quality of life for low-income children and their families.

Ria Davidson & Christine NeitzkeCo-founders of The Dragonfly Foundation, they have, with the help of their many supporters, brought smiles to the faces of children and young adults being treated for cancer and blood diseases by providing distractions from the psychological, emotional, physical and financial toll of treatment.

Lois SchloemerRecently retiring after more than four decades as a nurse, she has been making a difference for more than 35 years volunteering with schools, athletic programs, co-sponsoring and leading Girl Scout Troops, and has been a devoted volunteer at Ronald McDonald House since 1982.

Kathy HamiltonInspired by her mother’s example, over the past 36 years she has educated more than one thousand young children, teaching them how to read, write, wait their turns and other valuable life lessons as an educator in Campbell County Public Schools, and returning from retirement to teach at Christ Baptist Preschool.

Amy SilverThrough creation of a free community art program in Over-the-Rhine called “Children’s Creative Corner,” she engages families and ensures that children have opportunities to learn about art and themselves.

April HayesAs Director and teacher for Children, Inc.’s Newport Preschool Center, she has dedicated her career to helping children and families thrive in school and life by building close relationships with her students’ parents and ensuring that the individual needs of each student are met.

Marcia SimmonsRetiring Founder and Executive Director of Visions Community Services, she has supported teen mothers by encouraging them to finish their education and become self-sufficient while also preparing their children to succeed in kindergarten.

Paul HoetingAs a CISE volunteer lab instructor, he is part of a team that runs weekly hands-on science labs to 6th through 8th grade students at several Catholic schools, bringing life and fun to physical science; and makes several home visits every week to needy families through the Society of St. Vincent de Paul.

Vanessa SparksThrough “Youth Opportunities Over-the-Rhine/West End” and the Community Love Garden, she teaches leadership, critical-thinking skills, that all actions have consequences and you should have respect for yourself and others, and that children need to use their imaginations.

Trevin HogleHas taken responsibility for the faith, education and leadership of children in Campbell County by securing donations for extra enrichment and by teaching, training and coaching in camps, missionary visits, overnight events, before-and-after school instruction and family programs.

Julie SunderlandAs Director of Education and Outreach at Cincinnati Ballet, she manages the “CincyDance!” program, which provides free dance lessons and attire to children with no formal dance training, exposing children from a wide range of ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds to dance, and giving them the chance to learn both the discipline and the joy of dance.

Amy HugentoblerInfusing 21st century skills into her instruction at Madeira Middle School, she mentors her students in collaborative skills and facilitated their development of 26 different service learning projects that impacted many families in the community; addressing a range of community needs from hunger and poverty to wellness and disability awareness.

Mary WaldbilligBeginning her volunteer work as a teen at St. Joseph Home, she continues a lifelong dedication to serving others by continuing her work at St. Joseph Home and volunteering at St. Susanna Church, St. Teresa Village and Ronald McDonald House; inspiring family and friends as a true model for “giving back” to her community.

Karen JahnkeAs a volunteer at Frederick Douglass Elementary School, she has sought funding for an onsite library and arranged for regular visits to the public library and coordinates a program that provides students with uniforms, coats and gloves, and a program connecting 2nd grade students to students from University of Cincinnati.

Claudia WehmannA retired educator from Mt. Healthy Schools, she positively impacted hundreds of students as a teacher and now inspires and influences future educators by connecting them to beneficial classroom experiences as Field Experience Coordinator for Cincinnati Christian University.

Torrance JonesAn influential and visible member of his neighborhood, he motivates and guides children to stay on paths of success, diffuses tense and potentially violent situations with teens and young adults, and guides and assists those in the process of obtaining their GEDs and registering for college.

Laurie WolsingAs Head Start Director for Northern Kentucky Community Action Commission, she works tirelessly to lead her staff at seven Head Start centers in Northern Kentucky to provide quality preschool activities to at-risk children and engage their families in positive experiences.

Jenn JordanHas helped grow the annual “Walk Now for Autism Speaks” event into a major fundraiser and is instrumental in raising funds and awareness for autism research, family services and advocacy, as well as support for families who have loved ones living with autism spectrum disorders.

Yolanda ZezimaBeginning her work with children as a teen volunteer in Duke Energy Children’s Museum, she now serves as an assistant teacher at Procter & Gamble childcare center and works with teens and young children in her church every Sunday.

Sam BoronNot only has this selfless young man made two monetary donations to Cincinnati Museum Center from his own piggy bank, his thoughtfulness and concern for the repairs of Museum Center ‘s Union Terminal home prompted him to ask his friends to donate to the museum for his sixth birthday in lieu of gifts.

Alexander & Hannah LamanNine-year-old twins who share their love of reading with others, they have collected and donated more than 8,000 books to low-income and at-risk children in schools, shelters and via various community groups through their organization “Adopt-a-Book.”

Aubrey ClarkMotivated by the encouragement of her family when she was hospitalized, six-year-old Aubrey started “Jellyfish Wishes” to collect and send handmade and store bought cards to children in hospitals to provide support, encouragement and entertainment during their stays.

Kayla NunnA participant in the YMCA Black & Latino Achievers program, she has volunteered at Camp Invention, packed meals for Freestore Foodbank and Kids Against Hunger, assisted at school supply and backpack giveaways and talked to families at open houses about saving Box Tops to benefit their schools.

Katie DickertInspired by a school project and her love for a young family friend with a life-threatening illness, seventeen-year-old Katie created “Pillows of Hope” where she and other volunteers sew and donate cheerful pillowcases to children at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center.

Mariah ReynoldsThrough her organization “gLOVE One Another,” she provides cold weather clothing and supplies to children through schools, shelters and community organizations not only in Cincinnati but also in New York City, Tennessee and Washington, D.C. in addition to volunteering at the Cincinnati Zoo.

Amanda FordAs a Youth Presenter for YMCA Black & Latino Achievers, Community Service Leader with Higher Ground Ministries COGIC and Matthew 25 Ministries, and peer mentor for “Girls in the Hood” project, she has been making a positive difference in the lives of children for years.

Bluegrass for BabiesA non-profit organization that strives to improve children’s health through fundraising events that beneﬁt Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center by partnering with other non-proﬁt organizations focused on children’s health and through educating families on preventative health practices.

Growing SoundA division of Children, Inc. featuring the music of David Kisor, they create music CDs and other products based in research to help children develop confidence, self-control, resilience, initiative and key social-emotional skills making them “ready for school” and “ready for life.”

Children, Inc.Founded in 1977, they provide programs and resources to educators and families to build the foundation for life and school success for all children through partnerships with families, professionals and the community, and by offering exemplary services, training, research and advocacy.

Hamilton County Juvenile CourtL.I.V.E. Cincinnati is an initiative instituted by Administrative and Presiding Judge John Williams promoting gun safety awareness targeting fifth and sixth grade students to keep children and communities safe by informing them what to do if someone they know is in possession of an illegal gun, brings a gun to school or finds a gun in the community.

Children’s Law Center, Inc.Advocating for children in Ohio and Kentucky, they protect and enhance the legal rights of children through quality legal representation, research and policy development, and training and education of attorneys and others regarding children’s rights issues.

Hero Design Company - ArtWorksEnvisioned by Ryan Mulligan and managed by ArtWorks, they teach children living with or overcoming illnesses that they have the power to overcome obstacles and live as heroes in their communities by identifying their superpowers through the creative process of designing a custom super hero insignia and cape.

Cincinnati Nature CenterOffering a safe place for children to play in nature and educating adults on the benefits of frequent, unstructured nature play for children, they enrich lives by inspiring passion for nature through community, experience, education, respect and land stewardship.

Higher Education Mentoring InitiativeHEMI provides Hamilton County foster youth a long-term mentoring relationship that begins in high school and is focused on awareness, preparation and completion of post-secondary education, training and/or successful employment ultimately enabling youth to enhance their lives and communities.

Dragonfly FoundationProvides comfort, joy and CARE (Caring, Community and Awareness that Results in Emotional Health) to kids and young adults who have cancer or a blood disease, and their families; supports quality of life programs to enhance patient experiences and eases the emotional and psychological pain and fear that often lingers after treatment is completed.

Magnified GivingFounded in 2008 by Roger Grein, they educate, inspire and engage students in philanthropy, develop leadership skills by providing real-life investment opportunities in local non-profit organizations and teach students the secret of living is giving.

Faces Without PlacesSince 1998 they support children experiencing homelessness by keeping them connected to resources, ensuring uninterrupted enrollment and attendance to school, and by providing education, supplies, field trips, transportation, specialized services and mentoring.

Village Life OutreachImproving conditions of life, health and education with communities in remote regions of Tanzania while bringing lessons learned back to the Cincinnati community through inter-disciplinary problem solving, service-learning activities and cultural exchange between students of all ages.

Families for FamiliesFounded by Stacey Pavlin and Karen Huelsman as a way to give back to the community and involve children in charity work, they support victims of domestic abuse by providing clothing, food, toys and other supplies to YWCA Battered Women’s shelter.

Vineyard Community ChurchHost of “Breathe Respite” events, they support families of children with special needs by providing an evening of care, games, music, entertainment and fun several times a year using volunteer support and promote understanding and societal inclusion of people with disabilities.

Fernside: A Center for Grieving ChildrenEstablished in 1986 as the nation’s second oldest children’s grief center, they offer support and advocacy free of charge to grieving families who have experienced a death; peer support for children, teens and adults; and work to increase community awareness of grief issues.

Free Friday

Duke Energy Children’s Museum, Cincinnati History Museum and the Museum of Natural History & Science will be open FREE from 4 until 8 p.m. on Friday, October 26 in honor of the Difference Maker nominees. Ride Metro Rt. 1 FREE to and from Cincinnati Museum Center October 26 from 4 to 9 p.m.!

2012 Community Honoree

Darlene Green Kamine

Kamine serves as Executive Director of the Community Learning Center Institute, a non-profit organization dedicated to transforming schools into community learning centers. Her leadership has been recognized by the Coalition of Community Schools, National Governor’s Association Center for Best Practices, National Center for Community Schools and American Federation of Teachers.

As Magistrate for the Hamilton County Juvenile Court for 17 years, Kamine organized the Court’s first dependency, neglect and abuse unit and was the model for dependency law in Ohio. This initiative earned her the Gold Medal Award from the Foundation for the Improvement of Justice. In 1981, Kamine founded ProKids, a nationally recognized child advocacy organization.

She served as President of both the American Bar Association Institute for Child Advocacy and the Junior League of Cincinnati, and co-founded the Cincinnati Children’s Museum, serving as President of its Board before it became the Duke Energy Children’s Museum. The recipient of numerous awards and honors, Darlene Kamine has dedicated her life to bettering the lives of children through both her professional and volunteer efforts.